3 min readKolkataUpdated: Jul 19, 2026 05:57 AM IST
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district had been locked since the TMC lost the Assembly elections. (File photo and screen grab)
The South 24 Parganas district administration on Saturday started demolishing the party office of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Amtala after it was found to be constructed allegedly without an approved building plan and in violation of applicable rules, sources said.
Central forces, police, administrative officers and the fire brigade reached the site early morning and cordoned off part of the road. As the area is densely populated, police cleared the road and nearby shops and buildings to prevent untoward incidents. Three bulldozers were deployed to demolish the five‑storey building, which locals said Abhishek used during events in Diamond Harbour.
District administration sources said that according to a complaint, the office was allegedly built illegally without an approved building plan. Two notices were issued on June 30 and July 7, summoning people who reportedly own the building — Amit Banerjee, Moti Mallick, and Sushanta Mandal — to appear with documents on July 15. No one allegedly turned up, sources said, prompting the demolition order. The local administration said the property was bought in the name of the company Leaps and Bounds.
As bulldozers began tearing down the structure, officers, along with police, broke open the locks of the gates and entered the building. “The administration has initiated proceedings strictly in accordance with the provisions of the law. Notices were served after receiving complaints regarding alleged unauthorised construction, and the matter is currently under adjudication. Any further action will be taken only after the hearing and in compliance with the relevant legal provisions,” a senior South 24 Parganas district administration official said.
Reacting to this, Abhishek said that the office was built legally on purchased land after clearing all permissions and said that the TMC will move the Calcutta High Court against the demolition. “The district administration has not shared the copy of the complaints that were filed. The land was purchased, and the building was constructed according to an approved plan. It has all the valid permissions and documents. We will place all these documents before the Calcutta High Court,” the Diamond Harbour MP said.
He said that the party wrote to the Officer on Special Duty to CJI, enclosing videos which he claimed showed BJP workers vandalising the premises during the demolition. “We will apply for an urgent hearing on this matter in the high court. We will also move the Supreme Court,” Abhishek said.
Meanwhile, BJP workers celebrated on the streets and tried to enter the building, but were stopped by the local police. BJP MLA Agniswar Naskar said, “We heard the building has come up illegally and there was no building plan. The administration has decided to demolish it. We welcome the move.”
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
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State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
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Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
